n armed with spears would fly before them.
Therefore I determined that I should be a witch-doctor, for they alone
can kill those whom they hate with a word. So I learned the arts of the
medicine-men. I made sacrifices, I fasted in the veldt alone, I did all
those things of which you have heard, and I learned much; for there is
wisdom in our magic as well as lies--and you know it, my father, else
you had not come here to ask me about your lost oxen.

So things went on till I was twenty years of age--a man full grown. By
now I had mastered all I could learn by myself, so I joined myself on to
the chief medicine-man of our tribe, who was named Noma. He was old, had
one eye only, and was very clever. Of him I learned some tricks and more
wisdom, but at last he grew jealous of me and set a trap to catch me. As
it chanced, a rich man of a neighbouring tribe had lost some cattle, and
came with gifts to Noma praying him to smell them out. Noma tried and
could not find them; his vision failed him. Then the headman grew angry
and demanded back his gifts; but Noma would not give up that which he
once had held, and hot words passed. The headman said that he would kill
Noma; Noma said that he would bewitch the headman.

"Peace," I said, for I feared that blood would be shed. "Peace, and let
me see if my snake will tell me where the cattle are."

"You are nothing but a boy," answered the headman. "Can a boy have
wisdom?"

"That shall soon be known," I said, taking the bones in my hand. (1)

(1) The Kafir witch-doctors use the knuckle-bones of animals in their
magic rites, throwing them something as we throw dice.--ED.

"Leave the bones alone!" screamed Noma. "We will ask nothing more of our
snakes for the good of this son of a dog."

"He shall throw the bones," answered the headman. "If you try to stop
him, I will let sunshine through you with my assegai." And he lifted his
spear.

Then I made haste to begin; I threw the bones. The headman sat on the
ground before me and answered my questions. You know of these matters,
my father--how sometimes the witch-doctor has knowledge of where the
lost things are, for our ears are long, and sometimes his Ehlose tells
him, as but the other day it told me of your oxen. Well, in this case,
my snake stood up. I knew nothing of the man's cattle, but my Spirit was
with me and soon I saw them all, and told them to him one by one, their
colour, their age--everything. I told him, too, wher